Sports shoe

ABSTRACT

Arrays of resilient supports provide an energy absorbing shoe suitable for enhancing an exercise regime involving leg-shoe interactions.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This utility patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Prov. Pat.Appl. No. 61/072,215 filed Mar. 28, 2008 and U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No.61/001,924 filed Nov. 5, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for enhancing an exerciseregime involving leg-shoe interactions such as running, jumping,hopping, leaping and the like. In particular, the invention concerns themechanical arts and the use of resilient shoe components.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Designing for look and style are dominant forces among shoemakers. But,such designs frequently compromise utility and rarely lead to productswith novel, useful design features unrelated to style.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shoe comprises a shoe upper and a shoe sole where a first plurality ofenergy absorbing resilient supports is arranged as a forward arrayextending from the toe of the shoe rearward and a second plurality ofenergy absorbing resilient supports is arranged as rearward arrayextending from the rear of the shoe forward, a region between saidforward and rearward arrays having no supports and the number ofsupports in the first and second arrays not exceeding forty inembodiments based on a sparse array.

In an embodiment, an imaginary line in the form of a curve extendingfrom the toe to the rear of the shoe and about dividing the shoe intoequal parts and from the first plurality of supports, a third pluralityof supports being arranged to either side of the shoe curve and from thesecond plurality of supports, a fourth plurality of supports beingarranged to either side of the shoe curve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. These figures, incorporated herein and forming part of thespecification, illustrate the present invention and, together with thedescription, further serve to explain the principles of the inventionand to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a side-view of a sports shoe in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2A-2C show arrays of supports of the sports shoe of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A-F show shapes of supports of the sports shoe of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The disclosure provided in the following pages describes examples ofsome embodiments of the invention. The designs, figures, and descriptionare non-limiting examples of certain embodiments of the invention. Forexample, other embodiments of the disclosed device may or may notinclude the features described herein. Moreover, disclosed advantagesand benefits may apply to only certain embodiments of the invention andshould be not used to limit the disclosed inventions.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a shoe made in accordance with the presentinvention 100. The shoe has an upper portion 102, a sole portion 104 andsupports 106.

Projecting downward from the shoe's outsole 105 is an array of supports106. The supports are in arranged in a plurality of groups including aforward group 114 and a rearward group 110. In various embodiments, theforward and rearward groups are separated by an unpopulated region 112having no supports.

As shown in the figure, there are a plurality of supports 106 in each ofthe forward 114 and rearward 110 groups. In the embodiment shown, threesupports are visible in the side-view of the rearward group and threesupports are visible in the side-view of the forward group. In variousembodiments, matching adjacent supports are located on the opposite sideof the shoe.

FIGS. 2A-2C show embodiments of various forward and rearward arrays ofsupports. Any of the forward and rearward groups may be exchanged amongthe embodiments shown. For example, the forward array 206 of FIG. 2B maybe replaced by the forward array 202 of FIG. 2A and vice versa.

FIG. 2A shows a forward array of supports 202 and a rearward array ofsupports 204. In an embodiment, the forward array consists of sixsupports arranged three to either side of a central shoe curve z1-z1 andforming three pairs of substantially side-by-side supports. As usedherein, a central shoe curve extends from the toe to the rear of a shoeand about evenly divides the shoe. In another embodiment, the forwardarray includes the six supports and a seventh support on the shoe curvenear the toe of the shoe. The rearward array of supports 204 consists offour supports arranged two to either side of the shoe curve z1-z1.

FIG. 2B shows a forward array of supports 206 and a rearward array ofsupports 208. The forward array consists of seven supports. Near thetoe, a central shoe curve z2-z2 separates first and second substantiallyadjacent supports. To the rear of these supports, a third support islocated on the shoe curve and further to the rear four supports arearranged two to either side of the shoe curve forming two pairs ofsubstantially side-by-side supports.

In an embodiment, the rearward array of supports 208 consists of foursupports arranged two to either side of the shoe curve z2-z2 forming twopairs of substantially side-by-side supports. In another embodiment therearward array includes the four supports and an additional two supportsarranged one to either side of the shoe curve and forward of the foursupports forming a third pair of substantially side-by-side supports.

FIG. 2C shows a forward array of supports 210 and a rearward array ofsupports 212. The forward array consists of six supports; to one side ofa central shoe curve z3-z3 three supports are arranged in staggeredrelationship with three supports to the other side of the shoe curve. Insome embodiments, the supports nearest the toe are staggered such thatinnermost supports are nearest the shoe toe (as shown). In otherembodiments, the supports nearest the toe are staggered such that theoutermost supports are nearest the shoe toe.

The rearward array of supports 212 consists of four supports; to oneside of the central shoe curve z3-z3 two supports are arranged instaggered relationship with two supports to the other side of the shoecurve. In some embodiments, the supports nearest the heel are staggeredsuch that the outermost supports are nearest the shoe rear (as shown).In other embodiments, the supports nearest the heel are staggered suchthat the innermost supports are nearest the shoe rear (as shown).

Embodiments of the invention thus utilize sparse arrays of supportsarranged on and/or to either side of a shoe-curve extending from theshoe toe to the shoe rear and about dividing the shoe into two equalportions. Sparse arrays here refers to arrays of between one andthirty-nine supports. In some embodiments, the number of supports in theforward array is in the range of one to seven supports and the number ofsupports in the rearward array is in the range of one to six supports.In yet other embodiments, the number of supports in forward and rearwardarrays of a single shoe is in a range of 14 to 40 supports.

As mentioned above, it is anticipated that the present disclosure willenable persons of ordinary skill in the art to make yet other supportarrays based on the support arrays disclosed herein. Such other arraysare within the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-3G show embodiments of variously shaped three-dimensionalsupports. Generally, the figures are oriented such that the upwardfacing portions are the support's interface with the outsole 105 of ashoe. The downward facing portions of the figures are therefore thesupport tips or interfaces that contact surface(s) supporting the user.

FIGS. 3A-B show supports having generally rounded tips 302, 304. Inparticular, FIG. 3A shows a substantially hemispherical shape and FIG.3B shows a substantially parabolic or elliptical shape. Other shapeshaving rounded tips will also be known to persons of ordinary skill inthe art and are included in the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 3C and 3E show frustrums of cones. FIG. 3C shows a circular conewhile FIG. 3E shows a multi-sided, here five-sided, cone. The tips 306,310 of these supports are shown to be flat; in other embodiments, theyare rounded.

FIGS. 3D and 3F show conical shapes. FIG. 3D shows a circular cone withtip 308 while FIG. 3F shows a multi-sided, here five-sided, cone withtip 312.

In various embodiments, supports 106 may have any one or any combinationof these shapes. And, in various embodiments the supports are sized suchthat the average width of the shoe will accommodate two to four supportsarranged side-by-side.

In some embodiments the supports are solid and resilience is determinedmainly by the material properties. In other embodiments, the supportsare hollow and resilience is determined by material properties. In yetother embodiments, the supports are hollow but provide a gas tightchamber such that resilience is strongly influenced by the pressure ofthe gas therein and the elasticity of the material.

In an embodiment, forward and rearward arrays use a single shape. Inanother embodiment, forward arrays have a first shape while rearwardarrays have a second shape. In yet other embodiments, particular arrayshave a plurality of different shapes. Among other things, shapes may bechosen to vary a spring rate and/or damping rate of a portion of theshoe.

In some embodiments shoes 100 are manufactured complete with thesupports 106 of the present invention. Here, in various embodiments, thesupports are formed integral with all or a portion of the sole 104, 105,are formed integral with the entire shoe, are adhered to a sole of theshoe or are otherwise attached to the shoe using a suitable method knownto persons of ordinary skill in the art. Where separate supports areattached to a sole of the shoe, the means of attachment includesmechanical attachment as with fasteners such as screw fasteners, bondingattachment by melting material of one or both of the sole and thesupport and adhesive attachment by use of an adhesive known in the art.

And in some embodiments, supports 106 are assembled onto the shoe 100after the shoe is manufactured. For example, a support “kit” is used bya shoe shop or a shoe owner to refit shoes with the supports of thepresent invention. Here, separate supports are attached to a sole 104,105 of the shoe, the means of attachment includes mechanical attachmentas with fasteners such as screw fasteners, bonding attachment by meltingmaterial of one or both of the sole and the support and adhesiveattachment by use of an adhesive known in the art.

The supports 106 may be made from any resilient material suitable foruse with shoes. For example, in various embodiments natural materialsincluding plant derived materials such as rubber and cork may be usedalone or in combination with natural and man-made materials. And invarious embodiments man-made materials including polymers such asrubbers, silicone polymers, dense foams, and man-made rubber-likematerials such as industrial polymers including butyl rubber are used.In yet other embodiments, any one or more of the above mentionedmaterials and rubber, styrene, SBS, HDPE, other ethylenic materials,silicone materials, regrind rubbers, suitable binding materials,elastomers, LLDPE cellular rubber, cellular polymers, and other suitablematerials known to persons of ordinary skill in the art may be used tomake the supports.

In operation shoes having the supports of the present invention providea resilient platform for users. Supports that are compressed between theuser's foot and an external support, such as a floor or another surface,provide a spring-like action, returning energy stored in the support tothe user in a rebounding action as the supports tend to resume theirnormal shape after absorbing an impact.

In an embodiment, the impact absorbing capability of suitable resilientsupports reduces shock loads otherwise supported by the human body andin particular by the skeletal joints of the human body. By cushioningimpacts the stress on joints is reduced during exercise tending topreserve proper joint function and prevent joint injury.

In some embodiments, sparse arrays of supports increase heel-to-toeshock absorption available to users of the present invention. Inaddition, the number, placement and shape of the supports provide readymeans for adjusting the load distribution on the user's feet, the springrate of the combined supports and the load capacity of the shoe. Forexample, a hemispherical support provides a relatively stiff support ascompared to a conical support having a similar major diameter.

Choice of materials also plays an important role in adjusting theresilience of the support system and the longevity of the support, theharder, tougher man-made materials providing less energy absorption butproviding longer life as compared to softer rubbers commonly found inshoes.

In an embodiment, a shoe spring rate is adjusted to match the weight ofthe user and the particular sport being played, the adjustment beingaccomplished by selecting suitable combinations of the support material,support shape and number of supports.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to those skilledin the art that various changes in the form and details can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such,the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited bythe above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and equivalents thereof.

1. A shoe comprising: a shoe upper and a shoe sole; a first plurality ofenergy absorbing resilient supports arranged as a forward arrayextending from the toe of the shoe rearward; a second plurality ofenergy absorbing resilient supports arranged as rearward array extendingfrom the rear of the shoe forward; the supports transferring loadsbetween the shoe sole and one or more surfaces supporting the shoe; aregion between said forward and rearward arrays having no supports; and,the number of supports in the first and second arrays not exceedingforty.
 2. The shoe of claim 1 further comprising: an imaginary line inthe form of a curve extending from the toe to the rear of the shoe andabout dividing the shoe into equal parts; from the first plurality ofsupports, a third plurality of supports being arranged to either side ofthe shoe curve; and, from the second plurality of supports, a fourthplurality of supports being arranged to either side of the shoe curve.3. The shoe of claim 2 wherein: the first plurality of supports consistsof no more than seven supports; and, the second plurality of supportsconsists of no more than six supports.
 4. The shoe of claim 3 whereinthe first plurality of supports are in the shape of a hemisphere.
 5. Theshoe of claim 4 wherein the second plurality of supports are in theshape of a hemisphere.
 6. The shoe of claim 5 wherein the hemisphericalsupports have a major diameter of between about 25 and 50 percent of theaverage width of the shoe.
 7. The shoe of claim 6 further comprising aspring rate adjusted to match the weight of the user and the particularsport being played, the adjustment being accomplished by selectingsuitable combinations of support material, support shape and number ofsupports.